Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

There is an article in todays Cambs Times© Click Here to read
Tonight I received the following from the Chief Constable.
It is a lengthy explanation into the future ‘Policing’ in our area…

Today (Thursday 23 November) I have announced proposed plans to create a sustainable policing model that includes an extra 50 police officers for the county.

I want to involve the public and our partners in this process and will be providing regular updates on our proposals and their impact. We will listen carefully to any concerns and ensure we take that feedback on board ahead of any final decisions on the force’s structure. The purpose of the review is to create a sustainable policing model that enables us to manage our demand effectively and ultimately improve the service the public receives.

Earlier this year the Police and Crime Commissioner Jason Ablewhite and I raised concerns about the level of demand facing policing and the pressure it was putting on the force’s control room, frontline and investigations.

Last year I commissioned the Local Policing Review, tasked with designing a model that would deliver a demand-led and victim-focused service which provides much needed support to the frontline.

Our current policing model is no longer sustainable and is hampering our ability to manage our demand. Like forces across the country, Cambridgeshire faces an unprecedented workload and, as a result, officers and staff are working long hours and juggling heavy workloads.

We remain committed to protecting the most vulnerable people and targeting the most serious offenders.  But this means I have to be realistic about what we can and cannot attend, and make some difficult decisions about our future structure.

The focus of this review and the proposed model is putting more officers on the frontline to enable us to provide the public with the best service possible.  This structure will enable us to fund an additional 50 officers which will make a huge difference to the people of Cambridgeshire.

We need to acknowledge the changing profile of crime as well as the changing threat and risk to public safety, much of which would have been unrecognisable just a few years ago.  We also need to deliver a policing model that makes the best use of our finances, which in real terms are reducing.

We remain committed to providing neighbourhood policing and to working with communities and in partnership to reduce crime and to make them safer through effective problem solving. Every resident across the county will be able to access their local policing team and have an identified PCSO in their area.

This said, I have had to make the difficult decision to reduce overall numbers of PCSOs. This is in part a financial decision but also an operational one. The harsh reality is that given the high levels of demand for police officers with warranted powers – to manage and investigate the increase in recorded crime, arrest offenders and make communities safer – I need to reduce the number of PCSOs and increase the number of operational police constables.  And I am optimistic I have struck the right balance.

The proposed model has been designed using the evidence gathered by the Local Policing Review Team over the past 12 months. This includes feedback from officers and staff, demand and resource mapping, visits to other forces and a review of existing data from within the force.

Officers and staff directly affected by the proposed changes will be going through a period of formal consultation over the coming weeks.  The final structure will be confirmed in January and the first phase of the model will go live from 30 April 2018.

Below is a summary of the proposed changes and an overview of the structure:

• The force balance its budget over the next four years by delivering the necessary £3.1m savings.
• No new intakes of PCSOs and the current vacancies will be realised. The 126 FTE headcount will reduced by natural turnover with a commitment to retain a minimum of 80 FTE posts.  Every resident across the county will be able to access their local policing team and have an identified PCSO in their area.
• Additional constables to be deployed to the areas of greatest risk and need – frontline, child protection, rape investigation and partnership and operational support.
• Demand Hub – modernises approach to public contact and allows for early and more effective management of demand.
• Creation of single force model split into two areas – allows for more efficient and effective governance and reduced supervisory and senior management posts – committing more resources to the frontline.
• Creation of MET Hub – focusing on Missing, Exploited and Trafficked children to protect those children most at risk of harm and focus on those offenders who target them.
• Increase to analytical provision allowing improved analysis of demand.
• Retention in the role of PCSOs to deliver highly effective model of neighbourhood policing and problem solving. Continued commitment to community safety.  This is what communities want.
• Creation of community action teams in the North and South, building on the success of RCAT. These teams will respond to the problems and challenges. These officers will be deployed as a result of routine detailed analysis of community intelligence, information and incidents to ensure that they provide an effective policing response to those local issues, prioritising those causing greatest harm to communities.
• Front counter provision retained in every district council area, albeit reducing opening in line with demand.
• Revised shift patterns with improved alignment to demand.
• Reduced number of response bases allowing for maximum efficiency in response deployment.
• Retention of serious and organised crime team, cyber and fraud team, surveillance team to continue to tackle serious and organised crime gangs. Retention of SARC and specialist co-located rape investigators.

Kind regards.
Chief Constable Alec Wood

From Julie Bailey (Police, Community Safety Officer, Fenland)

There have been some reports over the last week of persons knocking on doors offering to undertake work across Fenland. This message is a general reminder but also a request for help.
Please could I ask you to forward this on to your friends and neighbours.
Please do not employ persons knocking on your door or putting leaflets through your letter box in order to gain work. If you hadn’t been considering the work they are offering to complete you probably don’t need it! If you are considering having work carried out always use a reputable company or recommendation. Trading standards offer a scheme called “BUY WITH CONFIDENCE”, there are other companies that have members aligned to them that pay to be on their scheme the NATIONAL SECURITIES INSPECTORATE (NSI) also have members, you type in the type of company you are looking to employ and your postcode the search will cover a 50 mile radius which means you do have to scroll through for more local companies, all the companies pay to be registered and are rated Gold, Silver or Bronze, this means should you not be satisfied with the work you can go back to NSI and report.
Always obtain three quotes for any works you would like completing instruct the company that you feel offers you the best and what you want, this might not be the cheapest! Before you commit to any works being undertaken, they should provide you with a copy of the paperwork that you have signed and it should have a 14 day cooling off period in it.
This should be clearly explained to you along with any other clauses and finance terms before you sign any documentation. If the deal you are offered seems too good to be true it usually is! When arranging for work to be completed always ask what the final cost will be and get it in writing.  If they subsequently change the price that you have agreed and are asking for more, contact Trading standards and the Police with the company details and where possible vehicle details Index and any sign writing on the side. If persons are knocking on your door you don’t have to open your door, always use a door chain and if you have concerns contact the police. Telephone and computer scams/sales –
DO NOT GIVE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION OUT OVER THE PHONE OR COMPUTER. DO NOT OPEN E-MAILS FROM UNKNOWN SENDER DO NOT SEND MONEY FOR STRANDED TRAVELLERS DO NOT ENTER PRIZE DRAW SENT THROUGH THE MAIL OR E-MAIL IF YOU ARE ASKED TO SEND MONEY TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE IT IS A SCAM!
If you are unsure you can always report to Trading Standards or ACTION FRAUD. Action Fraud – 0300 123 2014
Non emergency 101-
Emergency 999 –
There and you have concerns Crime stoppers anonymously 0800 555 111

Here we go again, years and years, all I have heard is how hard-done-by the poor people of Wisbech are.
In that case I truly feel very sorry for them and all the hardships they have had to endure.
(I met on several occasions the ex conservative councillor David Wheeler in the Waterlees area)
The latest I have received – see below…Is that there is to be a ‘New Police Station’ in Wisbech and the PCC is seeking public view…

Good morning
Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite is asking local residents to come along to a public meeting on Monday 27th November in Wisbech.
The Commissioner would like to discuss plans for a new Police Station in Wisbech with members of the local community before undertaking the formal application process.
Superintendent Andy Gipp from Cambridgeshire Constabulary will also be present.
The event will be held in Wisbech Town Hall Council Chamber between 7pm and 9pm on Monday 27th November and is open to all Wisbech residents.

Early this week our ‘astute’ MP Steve Barclays was complaining about the possible ‘loss’ of funding for the proposed Wisbech to March Rail link.
The MP broke his silence on the study after failing to persuade council chiefs to pull the report that warns residents if they don’t approve the draft preferred strategy then £10.5 million allocated for transport infrastructure in the town would be lost.

“We are on the verge of great opportunity or great failure,” he said.
“My constituents are being told that if they do not vote for this package in its entirety we lose £10.5 million allocated to Wisbech. That is factually incorrect.”
Full Story Cambs Times©    Click Here

Then there are a raft of other initiatives (Some European Money should it ever happen) ALL for Wisbech. Again the potential is for Millions.

I am truly very thankful for those who have pushed for 40+ years (myself included) for a Crossing over Kings Dyke Railway – We are still waiting for the start.
I am ‘hearing’ that the sooner we get ‘in bed’ with the ‘New’ Mayor of the Combined Authority – James Palmer – The better off we maybe –
Maybe is the question, as Mayor Palmers £Millions – seem to be a bit elasticated in the amount of schemes he is hoping to deliver.

As always if I am proven wrong – I’ll be very HAPPY again.
I also note there is NOT a lot of noise being made from our present councillors about several issues that should be address….

Finally, maybe someone at Cambs Highways can find a few £££Quids… to put some ‘Paint’ on our Zebbra Crossings which are ‘almost becoming invisible…

You can view and read this months report from Cambs Police & Crime Commissioner by
Clicking Here
It takes you directly to the report and has been virus checked.

WHITTLESEY & DISTRICT BUSINESS FORUM
Falcon Hotel, London Street,
Whittlesey, Peterborough, PE7 1BH.

A G E N D A

General meeting Wednesday: 22^nd November, 2017. At Falcon Hotel 6.00 for 6.30pm

Welcome and Apologies
Minutes of the previous general meeting on 18^th October, 2017
Matters Arising – not dealt with later
Members introduction
Membership & Treasurer’s Report
Guest Speaker; Krista Webb, Calm Accounting – introducing changes to Data Protection Regs.  Questions.
Trade & Community Fayre – the latest
Christmas Party. Friday 15^th December at Falcon Hotel – Steve Allen Disco – Booking forms have been sent out
Social Media update
Christmas Extravaganza – Friday 8^th December

Next Meeting AGM January, 2018
Any other business

Disclaimer: These observations are not the ‘official’ minutes of the meeting, these are supplied by Whittlesey Town Council, normally (1) month following the meeting and can be viewed on their website.

The main item of interest was that F/YR14/0706/F
The erection of housing and flats with the demolition of existing church hall (St Marys Hall – Station Road) – the application has been Withdrawn.

This may be good news to some…. but still leaves a derelict building and eyesore almost in the middle of our town, along with the ex Bricklayers Arms not being developed (again developer pulled out after permission given) what to do with these eyesores…
No easy answer, one ‘objector’ who lives on ‘Scaldgate’ said the Church Hall should be returned to its former glory – how! – it is now in private ownership and unless a Compulsory Purchase Order was made – it will remain in private ownership.
Whittlesey Town Council also made objections to this application and all the documents can be seen on FDC’s website under ‘Planning’ and by putting in the reference # at the top of the article.
We of course have ‘other’ sites’ equally grotty…The Morley’s Petrol Pump site is another example of what ‘visitors’ see as they drive through our town.
Until these sites are ‘sold’ and developed I am afraid we have to live with them, but wouldn’t it be nice if the owners just ‘tidied’ their sites up a little bit.

Of course there could always be a very generous philanthropic individual or organisation to buy up these properties and develop them for the ‘good’ of the town and its residents…
(Alas – I do know one such person – but I doubt very much if he will do this) 

Disclaimer: These observations are not the ‘official’ minutes of the meeting, these are supplied by Whittlesey Town Council, normally (1) month following the meeting and can be viewed on their website.

The agenda was posted below…. Highlights from the meeting.
Finance & Policy Committee

1/ It was ‘proposed’ that the annual precept (Council Tax) for Whittlesey Town Council be frozen at last years level.
So this ‘sounds’ very good news – however – the WTC element of ‘our’ Community Tax is pretty small…
You can bet that the Cambs County Council, Fenland District Council, Police & Crime Commissioner, Fire Authority – Uncle Tom Cobley and all will be wanting to increase our local taxation. Or maybe just being slightly cynical (really) local elections coming next year may have some bearing on how much our local rates go up.

2/ Dr Trevor Evans, the Chairman of Rural Cambs Citizens Advice Bureau gave a very good talk on the work the CAB are doing in our area.
In the first 6 months of the year:-
106 clients seen at Whittlesey Library on a Friday morning.
9 None Whittlesey clients seen.
62 clients seen at other area’s ie Internet Gateway or Telephone consultation.
It is estimates that by the end of the year (April) CAB will see 325 people at the Whittlesey drop-in sessions. Some 1,700 different issues being dealt with, people tend to come with 1 issue and end up with 5 or 6 other problems.

Most issues were:- Benefits, Debt, Managing Finances and Council Tax Arrears.
The most challenging coming is that of ‘Universal Credit’ which  I posted on a few days ago.

Whittlesey Town Council make a quarterly contribution towards the running costs of the CAB.

3/ A healthy state of council finances for the time of year, it was stated that there should be a surplus of funds by the end of the financial year.

4/ There was some on-going discussion about financing FDC’s CCTV system and that several councillors were yet to visit the facility. It was stated that FDC had spent some £200,000 upgrading the system.
I had pointed out to councillors prior to the meeting, that the CCTV camera covering the Bus Stop/Grosvenor Road and part of the Co-Op, was that full of condensation that I doubt if it would see a great deal – I have check it since and it has got ‘slightly’ better – remember – blame the weather?

5/ Community Road Watch – their statistics and reading were presented to the Police & Crime Commissioner for comment and ‘action’

More news coming tomorrow from tonights WTC Finance & Policy Committee meeting…
Disclaimer: These observations are not the ‘official’ minutes of the meeting, these are supplied by Whittlesey Town Council, normally (1) month following the meeting and can be viewed on their website.

Well somewhat ‘HAPPY’ – I have been campaigning and lobbying for many years to have a ‘deposit’ scheme placed on items which ‘people’ rubbish our environment with.
I do NOT profess to be a Tree Hunger (I like trees).. but for 10+ years I’ve been cleaning up other peoples rubbish which ‘they’ discard around our town.
On a wider subject – this is a national and world problem, and for sometime major players like Sky TV have been highlighting the issues surrounding plastics for example.
Years of lobbying some very deaf ears, has just maybe made an impact, with the Chancellor/Government of the day – now seriously looking into tackling the issue/problem.
2 Billion Coffee Pods thrown away – difficult to recycle – into landfill
2 Billion Coffee Cups thrown away – plastic membrane – difficult to recycle.
4 Billion Plastic bottles thrown away – difficult to recycle.
Billions of cans thrown away – much ends up in Landfill
Billions of Polystyrene Take-away containers – difficult to recycle – again Landfill
On and on and on….when and where will it stop.

Of course if everyone was responsible ‘we’ wouldn’t find tons of these items discarded in and around Whittlesey and our Villages.
I don’t like paying taxes more than anyone else, but with a deposit scheme one could recoup most of any tax placed on the above and if I collect other peoples discards I could make a ‘profit’
I sincerely hope that the Government is at last serious at tackling the problem it is about time.
Stories all over this weekends papers.

As a foot note: The press and to an extent the Chancellor has been a bit mislead by the mighty ‘Coca-Cola Company’ – For quite some considerable time -they were totally against any pro-active idea of a ‘deposit scheme’ on bottles and cans – but as late as this year – have now ‘appeared’ to have changed their tune….which I am very HAPPY about.

So we await the Chancellors speech later this week….

Sky News – Chancellor Announcement
Independent – Chancellor Announcement
BBC Blue Planet II (BBC1)

This is a somewhat very shortened version of ‘what’ and ‘where’ the event happened….

My good friend Ron ‘Sweeney’ Todd,  shown on the left of the picture at a recent meet up. John now well into his 80’s, recalls what happened during a voyage on ‘London Majesty’ during the early 1960’s….
What actually could have taken place is really ‘Film’ material…!!

Our company London & Overseas Freighters (LOF) was a successful Independent London/Greek Shipping Company, was well known to take the odd ‘risk’ – and on this occasion they chartered the ship to the Russian Government to carry crude and refined oil products to the embargoed ‘Cuba’ – this was to be a very risky venture to say the least.
The initial cargo was loaded in the Ukraine port of Odessa, and the slow ‘secret’  voyage stopped off in Ceuta North Africa (not so secret) for supplies, fuel and extra crew.

As the vessel progressed across the North Atlantic – the Officers and Indian Crew were becoming very nervous as there were all sorts of reports that the Americans were becoming more aggressive in ‘finding’ shipping that were breaking the embargo.

As the ship transited into the Caribbean well south passing Trinidad – so to be as far away from the vast US Naval Base in San Juan Puerto Rico, the Chief Officer Mr. Pullford lost his nerve, he persuaded the two apprentices Smith and Mayman to go with him in the early morning in the ships ‘Jolly Boat’ -.-

The story which Ron relates is somewhat magical to us ‘Old’ Sea-dogs….
How can a small ‘Jolly Boat’ be launched from a ship doing about 11 knots…. no one really knows, however the Chief Steward had a part to play – he was the one who ‘assisted’ the feat of magic.

London Majesty – © Roy Gerstner

The first anyone knew, was when the Chief Officer (Pullford) didn’t arrive for his watch at 0400, the Second Officer sent the watch-keeper to wake up the Chief Off – alas he found an empty bunk, the Captain was called and a search of the accommodation revealed the ‘missing’ (3).
The ship was stopped and the American authorities notified in San Juan, the ship turned around and by now it was day-light. At about 10am the Americans had found the ‘Jolley Boat’ with the 3 occupants and told the ship their position, within 2 hours the 3 were back on the ship.
The Americans let the ship proceed to Cuba along with its cargo and crew. There was no way the 3 miscreants could be repatriated from Cuba and after some several weeks discharging the cargo, the vessel back loaded Molasses destined for Russia.

Mr. Pullford and the two apprentices were off-loaded on the return to Ceuta and flown home. Mr. Pullford was dismissed and eventually owned shops in the Newcastle area.
He built and sailed a boat around the world later in his life.
Mr Smith became a Banker.

Mr Mayman was saved by his Reverend Father who pleaded with the Company that he was lead astray.
He remained with LOF until the company was sold in 1997 eventually becoming Captain Mayman and after his LOF days was unfortunate to have had a couple of mishaps on his vessels he is now retired.
Picture shows Bob Mayman in 2015

The company being the ‘bad boys’ during this era, continued to charter their ships to the Russian Government over a number of years.

Life at sea was never boring or without excitement or incident – I was lucky to have travelled over 1 million nautical miles and travelled to over a hundred countries.

Like to read more…then why not look at my other website
http://www.lof-news.co.uk

I developed the history and artefacts of LOF since the company was sold in 1997 – I have developed this website for nearly 20 years.

I have a multitude of ‘Salty Stories’ maybe I’ll do another one later on.

After yesterdays post I have been contacted (Thank you) by around 15 residents who have had similar calls from the ‘FAKE’ HRMC.
One elderly lady did continue with the call thinking it to be genuine – but realised when ‘they’ required much more personal information she terminated the call.

Also doing the ’rounds’ is a ‘FAKE’ SMS message – telling you of an impending Parcel Deliver….. they don’t know your name, and you are not expecting a Parcel – please terminate the call.

Both of these scams have been around for years, but over the past few days – appear to be hitting the Whittlesey area.

It is important that you let your ‘Elderly Neighbours’ aware of these calls –

Please do it – Today.